Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [46]
Morala took Alias's hands in her own and squeezed them hard. "I cannot forgive Nameless because he lied, and his lie bound Maryje to her wounds, and her wounds bound her to her shame, and her shame bound her to her death. The truth would have set her free, and she would not have killed herself."
"What lie?" Alias demanded. "What are you talking about?"
"Ask him," Morala demanded. "Ask Nameless to tell you the truth-the truth he would not admit to Elminster, the truth he would not tell the Harpers, the truth about himself that even he is ashamed of. If he will do that, he will set himself free and even I will forgive him."
Alias pulled her hands away from the priestess and backed her chair away. Her heart was racing wildly, and despite her wool tunic, she felt chilled. "Suppose I don't want to hear this truth?" she asked.
"I thought you loved him," Morala said. "Would you have him bear the burden of his guilt to his grave?"
"All right, I'll ask him," Alias said defiantly, "and he'll tell me, and I won't love him any less, whatever it is he says."
"I did not think that you would," Morala replied.
"Why won't you just tell me what it is?" Alias asked with a growing sense of frustration.
"I intend this test to remind Nameless of what he has already taught you about love but seems unable to remember for himself," the priestess explained.
Morala's mood became suddenly businesslike. She slapped her hands down on her thighs and said, "First, though, we must find Nameless. I am rested enough, now." She held her hand out.
Alias rose hastily to her feet and helped the old woman rise from her chair and return to the table. The swordswoman watched curiously while Morala cleaned out the silver bowl and refilled it with more holy water.
A growl came from across the room. Alias looked up. Dragonbait stood in the courtroom door with Akabar's wife, Zhara. The saurial paladin pointed at a spot on the floor directly before him. He wasn't in a patient mood.
"Excuse me," Alias said to Morala. "I have to see what my friend wants."
Morala nodded without looking up from her silver bowl. Alias hurried toward the lizard. Dragonbait thrust a dead, singed thistle at her and signed furiously.
"What do you mean, you were attacked by thistles?" Alias asked with annoyance.
"What were you doing? Walking through Korhun Lherar's old pastures?"
Dragonbait signed again.
"In her room?" Alias asked. "Of course I didn't send them. What do I know about thistles?"
Where's Akabar? the saurial signed.
"Resting," Alias said. "He… uh, he wasn't feeling very well," she explained briefly, not wanting to give Zhara the details of Akabar's attack. She'd heard enough of the priestess's interpretations.
Take us to him, Dragonbait demanded.
"Morala is about to begin to scry for Nameless," Alias explained. "He's missing.
He may have been kidnapped. Can't you wait?" she asked impatiently.
No. Immediately, Dragonbait signed.
Alias huffed angrily, but from the garlic scent the saurial emitted, she could tell he wasn't going to give in. "All right," she growled. Just in case Kyre hadn't yet made any progress in convincing Akabar of the folly of his priestess wife, Alias suggested, "Zhara, maybe you'd like to wait here."
Dragonbait shook his head.
"She'll be fine here," Alias said, signing to Dragonbait that Zhara must stay in the courtroom.
The saurial ignored her. He stomped his foot.
"Fine," Alias whispered angrily. "Have it your way." The swordswoman looked back at Morala. The elderly priestess had aleady begun her chant, so Alias didn't dare disturb her. "Follow me," she said, striding purposefully out of the courtroom.
Morala was vaguely aware that Alias had departed, but she was too wrapped up in her spell chant to find out where the swordswoman had gone. Several minutes later, the water in the silver bowl began to sparkle and shine, and the priestess ceased her chant.
Squinting into the water, Morala could just barely discern the features of the Nameless Bard. His face was illuminated by a flickering torch,